Offense: A Sign of Pride

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Maria Chugreeva

Archbishop Feognost once said that the first sign of pride is offense. When a person becomes offended, it reveals a hidden, deep pride within. People who are easily offended tend to be very proud and self-centered. But why is this so?

At first glance, it might seem that being offended doesn’t harm anyone. It’s not anger or cursing; it’s simply a personal matter—someone offended you, and that’s it. But the truth is, offense runs much deeper and is far more serious than it seems.

I’ll admit, I struggle with this spiritual ailment. Offense traps me in a state where it becomes impossible to take a step toward reconciliation with those I’ve had misunderstandings or conflicts with.

Offense hinders prayer. It’s like a layer of asphalt covering the soul, through which communication with God cannot break through, much like how grass or flowers cannot grow through hard concrete. Offense paralyzes creativity. In this state of mind, nothing new can emerge, and offense stops me from opening myself to the world.

And most importantly, when we are offended, we see the world through a distorted lens. What seems wrong or unjust from another person’s actions may, in reality, be something entirely different. Perhaps even the one who offended us is not objective. Truth belongs to God. But when we are offended, it is often difficult to make it to church or to seek the priest’s help in prayer. In essence, offense consumes us.

Imagine someone treating you in a way you believe you do not deserve—failing to understand, appreciate, or acknowledge something you’ve done. Yet, how many times a day do we do the same to God? But He never shuts Himself off from us. He waits for our repentance and is always ready to embrace us with open arms. We can’t even imagine God “getting offended.”

Therefore, it is vital for me to identify the early signs of offense and not allow them to take root in my soul. Otherwise, reconciliation becomes impossible, and eventually, I may find myself unable to come to confession, unable to serve God’s glory. May God help me with this!

In the end, letting go of offense is not only about peace with others—it’s about maintaining peace with God and nurturing a heart open to His love and grace.


Original article: radiovera.ru/obida-priznak-gordosti-marija-chugreeva.html

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